pulled hard, held up, ridden 3f out, stayed on final furlong, never able to challenge
held up towards rear, wide and headway 4f out, chased leader approaching final furlong, stayed on to lead post
raced wide, mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden and weakened well over 1f out
with leader, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway, chased leaders 4f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed post
held up and last place, plenty to do 2f out, headway on inside approaching final furlong, stayed on nearest finish
tracked leaders, ridden and carried head high from 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up in mid-division on inside, effort approaching final furlong, stayed on
pulled hard in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
keen, mid-division, ridden over 3f out, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
made most to over 1f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden over 2f out, not clear run from over 1f out, and again inside final furlong, soon switched right, never a danger
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, soon one pace
SIGN OF THE CROSS may be the way to go in a typically trappy handicap in which the in-form Can Can Star and Majehar are sure to be popular. Kidlat is interesting but his trainer is struggling for winners and stated that the horse may not be seen at his best until back on turf. Jago returns from almost a year off but is relatively unexposed and the booking of Chris Catlin suggests that connections mean business. Can Can Star always requires luck in running but his style helps him to stay one step ahead of the handicapper and he rates short-list material. Parson's Punch wasn't far behind Man Of Gwent at Kempton in December and has claims if proving his effectiveness at this track whilst Majehar took advantage of the slippage in his handicap mark but could struggle from his revised rating. Sign Of The Cross is having his third run since leaving James Fanshawe and has been struggling to recapture his best form. He has raced prominently the last twice but could fare better if ridden with more restraint which may be forced upon connections given his draw. He drops in grade too and we'll be hoping for better fortune for Sign Of The Cross.
Sign of The Cross 8-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 6, 7l behind Dream of Fortune (9-2) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Dec.
Can Can Star 7-2 (9-7) Mid-division, good headway over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong to lead final strides, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan beating Colonel Sherman (8-12) by a nk, 14 ran.
Dr Brass 16-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out to track leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 12, 7l behind E Major (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.
Direct Debit (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, ridden well over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 10l behind Strabinios King (8-10) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Jan.
Kidlat 12-1 (8-7) Awkward leaving stalls, towards rear, headway on outer 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not trouble leaders, 6th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Confidentiality (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Man of Gwent (UAE) 5-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, hung left and not much room over 1f out, soon under pressure and beaten, 5th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Folio (9-4) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Bell Island 7-1 (11-8) Took keen hold tracking leaders, ridden over 4f out, beaten entering straight, 14th of 17, 26l behind Alsadaa (10-5) at Ascot 1m 4f amt hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sept.
Trifti 14-1 (9-1) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, not reached leaders, 6th of 12, 2l behind Wellington Square (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Dec.
Jago (SWI) 7-2 (9-6) Held up in touch, raced keenly, led well over 1f out, soon hung left, hard driven final furlong, all out, won at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Mar beating Trysting Grove (8-7) by a nk, 6 ran.
Bee Stinger 20-1 (8-7) Held up mid-division, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 9, 10l behind Den's Gift (9-0) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Parson's Punch 4-1fav (8-12) Set steady pace, pressed over 4f out, soon quickened pace and pressed, headed just over 1f out, stayed pressing leader, lost 3 places near finish, 5th of 11, 3/4l behind Man of Gwent (8-10) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
It's My Day (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Steadied start, held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, steady headway on inside from over 1f out, not trouble leaders, 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Millie's Rock (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan.
Majehar 8-13fav (8-10) Tracked leaders, with new leader 7f out, led over 2f out, stayed on well, pushed out, comfortably, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan beating Kings Topic (8-9) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
